A brief history of Ceresco, 1885

Ceresco. History of a Famous Social Experiment.

Seeking to reform particular social evils and to realize dreams of social harmony, many social reformers established utopian communities in the nineteenth century. The "Wisconsin Phalanx," Ceresco, was established in 1844 near present-day Ripon, and had originated with some of the residents of Southport. Warren Chase served as Ceresco's first president and guiding spirit. This article traces the history of the community.